United States President Donald Trump has praised President Bola Tinubu for what he described as his decisive leadership in tackling terrorism and insecurity in Nigeria, particularly attacks on Christian communities.
In a letter dated July 6, 2026, Trump commended Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the country’s security challenges and reaffirmed the United States’ support in the fight against terrorism.
“It is a true honour to stand with you in the fight against these terrorists and to make the Federal Republic of Nigeria stronger and more prosperous,” Trump wrote.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Nigeria and the United States have strengthened security cooperation in recent months, particularly through a Joint Working Group established by both presidents last November.
The initiative focuses on intelligence sharing, military training and joint operations against terrorist groups.
One of the key outcomes of the collaboration was the May 16 operation against ISIS hideouts in the Lake Chad region, which reportedly resulted in the killing of the group’s top leader, Abubakar Al-Minoki, along with several of his commanders.
The statement also recalled the recent visit of the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa, Frank Garcia, to Abuja, where he met with senior Nigerian officials and pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation on security and other strategic areas.
In his letter, Trump described the US-Nigeria relationship as vital at a time when conflict continues to spread across West Africa.
He noted that the 2026 US-Nigeria Defence Cooperation Roadmap provides a strong framework for combating terrorism.
The US President further stated that American Special Operations Forces had been deployed to train and equip members of the Nigerian Armed Forces with the skills, tools and intelligence needed to combat terrorism and protect citizens.
Trump expressed optimism about continued collaboration between both countries throughout his presidency.
